Literary Insights

Friday, December 7, 2012

Have you ever wondered why we put
candles in the windows at Christmastime?

Wonder no more. During the
seventeenth century, the British conquerors of Ireland implemented harsh laws
aimed at eradicating Irish traditions. Irishmen were forbidden to vote, send
their children to school, purchase land, or own a horse worth more than twenty-five
dollars. Irish priests were driven out of the land and warned never to return
under penalty of death.

On Christmas Eve, despite the iron
hand of their conquerors, Irish families of faith placed a single candle in
each of three windows—or three candles in one window—to represent Joseph, Mary,
and Jesus. These candles signaled to a traveling priest that the doors were
unlocked and he was welcome to come in, share a meal with the family, and
celebrate “Christ-mass.”

These Irish believers understood
that, in the words of the apostle John, Jesus is the Light that shines through
the darkness, “and the darkness can never extinguish it” (John 1:5). No matter
how many laws are enacted to try to snuff out the gathering of the saints, such
laws are no match for the Light of the World!

Monday, December 3, 2012

Bold as Love combines anecdotes of Roberts' personal
discoveries, lessons he learned about his own beliefs and suggestions to build
similar experiences across America. Roberts’s suggestions are both timely and
relevant.Texas pastor Bob Roberts Jr.
attributes his heart change to being challenged by a Saudi Arabian prince to do
the impossible; to somehow bring Muslims and Christians together in the
buckle of the Bible belt. That was the start of something new for his
congregation; as its members began hosting an event drawing Christians and
Muslims. A frequent speaker on this subject, Roberts has written Bold
as Love: What Can Happen When We See People the Way God Does, with the aim
of helping Christians live out their faith among people of all faiths.

“Globalization”, Roberts says, “has changed American
neighborhoods, giving Christians close-at-hand opportunities to demonstrate the
gospel to people from all over the world.” He urges Christians to be honest
about their beliefs, not to dilute them, and to begin by loving people and
building relationships. He believes this requires bold love, not “shy faith,”
which must focus on serving God and following His commands, even taking the
first step. Further, he has found that nothing builds relationships like
serving side-by-side with people who practice a different faith.

Today's unprecedented
mass migration has resulted in diverse, powerful world religions living next
door to one another. Picking our faith passively, or throwing our hands in the
air, is not an option. We must speak frankly, but lovingly, with all religions
in today's compact world.

Roberts takes a good amount of time to describe his term
"multifaith," which reflects his real goal: people who passionately
believe their own faith, and passionately want to know their neighbors as real
people; which is different from “interfaith” that tries to meld all beliefs into
one. Distinguishing between “interfaith” and “multifaith,” Roberts doesn’t
advocate the concept that “all paths lead to God.” Interfaith gatherings tend
to “ignore core truth.” Roberts says multifaith efforts acknowledge “we
have fundamental differences, but the best of our faiths teach us we should get
along.”

Although I agree with what Roberts says is needed, this
book does give one much to think about. I believe there is a fine line to walk
with others and still be salt and light to the world. It is commendable to work
for “peace on earth” I am concerned that we will only preach a social gospel
(let’s just be friends) and leave out the eternal gospel. The mission of the
Church should be to preach the Gospel of the death, burial and the resurrection
of Jesus, so that people on their way to hell under the judgment of God for sin
can turn to a Merciful God and be saved.I recommend this book, it isn’t what you might think and will get you to
evaluate just what you really believe. I
received this book from Handlebar Publishing in the Blog Network program for my
review.